Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum (Arabic: رَاشِد بن سَعِيْد آل مَكتُوم, romanized: Râşid bin Saîd Âl Mektûm; 11 June 1912 – 7 October 1990) was an Emirati royal, politician and a founder of the United Arab Emirates.

Al Maktoum was the first vice president and second prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, and was the ruler of Dubai.

[4] A quote commonly attributed to Sheikh Rashid reflected his concern that Dubai's oil, which was discovered in 1966 and which began production in 1969, would run out within a few generations.

"My grandfather rode a camel, my father rode a camel, I drive a Mercedes, my son drives a Land Rover, his son will drive a Land Rover, but his son will ride a camel",[5][6][note 1]He therefore worked to develop the economy of Dubai so that it could survive after the end of oil production, and was a driving force behind a number of major infrastructure projects to promote Dubai as a regional hub for trade, such as: There had been an armed border dispute between the Emirate of Dubai and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in 1946, and when Sheikh Rashid became ruler of Dubai, there was still a state of stand-off between the two emirates.

The ruling emir of Abu Dhabi, Shakhbut, was a first cousin of Sheikh Rashid's only wife, Latifah.

Instead, Sheikh Rashid established a close relationship with Qatar, who was a rival of Abu Dhabi on the other (western) border.

Revenue derived from land reclamation made possible by the dredging proved crucial for funding Dubai's future growth.